MEDWAY - The town, looking to maximize its profits, asked the school committee for approval to sell advertising space at Hanlon Field, the primary field for school sports.

Selectman Glenn Trindade, while asking the School Committee to hand over the operation and maintenance of the field to the town, also asked the School Committee to allow the town to sell ad space at the football field.

Board members listened to the proposal, and while no negative opinions were expressed, the board took no action but is expected to at a future meeting.

Turf is currently being replaced at the field and two new artificial turf fields are being constructed at and adjacent to the high school.

The $4.2 million project includes a rectangular, synthetic turf field on an existing softball and practice field at Medway High School. Another field will be built at recently purchased town property on Adams Street, north of the school.

An agreement has been signed to hand over the management of the other two fields to the town.

"We have what is a real premier facility," Trindade said, adding that the town will not only bring in revenue by renting the fields to outside groups, but also by selling ad space.

The Evaluation of the Parks, Field and Recreational Areas Committee (EPFRAC) and the Parks Department has been looking at "every way possible to maximize revenue," he said.

And with an estimated $400,000 expected to be left over in contingency funds, Trindade said the town’s intention is to "make it as premier a facility as possible," complete with additional restrooms and other facilities.

School Committee member Richard Eustis said it makes sense for the town to take over the operations of the fields.

"The town is better equipped to manage real property than an educational system," he said.

However, he asked Trindade to make sure the school teams have "unobstructed priority" to Hanlon Field and that the advertisements be "consistent with an academic campus."

Trindade agreed, and said the town would choose the proper advertisements to be placed at the field.

He added that the revenue from the ads would support maintenance and upgrades at the fields.

"We don’t want it to look awful," he said. "We want it to look great and be a successful facility."

Zachary Comeau can be reached at 508-634-7556 and zcomeau@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZComeau_MDN.